"So, Humphrey," Blair said, "what should we toast to? Good health? Large fortunes?" She raised her champagne glass, tapping it with her nail, "Friendship? Valentine's Day?"
"Old friends and new beginnings," Dan said, his words slightly slurred as he leaned towards her.
Blair clinked her glass against his. "How about, to a new chapter in my memoir? Or inspiration for your next book? Or to devious friends?"
Dan clinked his glass to hers, "All of the above."
They were both flushed in the cheeks from the champagne and from the company. They had been lightly flirting all night but Blair couldn't read the meaning of it. She meant it, she thought at least, friendly and maybe slightly suggestively. Dan, however, could just be mimicking her style. Although, he did ask Serena and Nate for helping setting this up and Blair figured that had to mean something.
"To a great Valentine's Day friendship date," Blair said, leaning her glass to his and noted his hesitation.
"Friendship date?" he raised his eyebrows, finally hitting her glass with his.
Blair pursed her lips before taking a sip and pressing her finger into his forehead. "You did say to old friends," she said, poking him with every fresh word.
"Ow." Dan rubbed the spot where she had poked with his hand before looking at her, "Well, what should I have said? To one time daters who both went back to their high school sweethearts by the end and new beginnings? To… two stubborn people who intellectually stimulate each other and new beginnings?" He lowered his voice, "To making some new times in elevators, Brooklyn, a loft…"
Blair blushed, "Stop that. That's just indecent."
Dan rolled his shoulders back before filling up their glasses with the remains of the bottle that was on the table. "So, what would you have liked me to say, Blair?"
Blair thought about it for a minute, tapping her fork to her lip as she thought. "To the start of something new that is hopefully not doomed to fail."
"That seems very optimistic," Dan laughed, leaning back in his chair. His knee grazed hers under the table and neither of them seemed in a rush to move either of their legs. "How about just to new beginnings? Simple and easy." He wiped his hands together and held them up to signal he was done. "I drop my mic."
"To new beginnings," she repeated. "I can go for that, Humphrey. To new beginnings and better endings."
"Perfect," Dan said, hitting his glass for a final time against hers. "So, tell me, Blair, who did you think they were setting you up with?"
Blair bit her bottom lip, "Someone Nate works with. Someone who wears a suit to work Monday through Friday and who's annual salary puts him in the 1%. I would think that Nate and Serena would know that I wouldn't want any social climber or anyone who would use me for my money or status."
"And, yet, you got me. I own one suit and my annual salary puts me solidly in the 99%."
"Then you must leave," Blair said, pointing to the door. "Unacceptable."
Dan made the motion to push his chair back before shaking his head and staying where he was. "That sounds like a terrible date for Valentine's Day."
"Yeah, well, I don't trust them generally with setting me up and that's probably why. They think I want what they have when really I mostly want to get sick in their presence."
Dan nodded enthusiastically, "I know what you mean! I get that they are in love and that is just great but do I really have to hear about it in every other word?"
Blair laughed, "You should have heard her earlier. Nate and I think this, Nate and I blah blah blah. I get it, Serena. You won, you're married and happy. I get it."
"I don't know, Blair. I think we might be the ones winning."
"Yeah but they have a built in excuse to get out of everything now and how I would kill for that."
"I get that. Who's going to say no, you can't go home to your sick child? Only heartless people." Dan poked at her thigh gently, "I'm surprised that you let them leave tonight."
"Like you said, only heartless people would stop them from leaving and I am not heartless. More like the Grinch, my heart is a few sizes too small."
"Maybe it's just picky."
"Picky has such a negative connotation," Blair said, letting her finger trace the top of her champagne flute. "It just has high standards on what it should let in. The less things it lets in, the higher the chances of not being disappointed."
Dan nodded, "Do I pass the test?"
"Too soon to tell," she shrugged before laughing. "Seriously, Dan, how long have we been here?"
Dan looked around, seeing the dining room had been slowly emptying and now they were one of the last people in the room. "Long enough to warrant another bottle of champagne?"
Blair shook her head, "If I drink anymore, I don't think I'm going to be able to stand. This was fun though. It was a good Valentine's Day."
"It was a good date," Dan said, his voice wavering on the last word.
"A good date," she repeated, nodding her head. Dan reached over and squeezed her knee slightly and Blair smiled at him. "I think we're doing things backwards. You gave me the key to your place, then we had our first fight, and now we're going on our first date. I think it usually goes the other way. Date, fight, key."
"I think I like it this way. It's unexpected."
"I'm a fan of plans and traditions," Blair argued. "This, this is throwing me off my kilter. Especially the surprise aspect of the date. What would you have done if I left?"
Dan had let his hand move from her knee to her thigh and he was making circles with his fingers over the fabric of her dress. "Been alone and sad on Valentine's Day."
Blair covered his hand with hers and they sat there quietly for a minute. "I'm glad I stayed," she said, finally.
"I'm glad you did as well."
The waiter passed their table, and Blair raised her hand. "Can we get the check, please?" The waiter shook his head and Blair raised her voice slightly, "The check? So we can leave?"
"I'm sorry, Miss. The Archibald's picked up your tab tonight on their way out." The waiter bowed slightly before leaving the area and Blair and Dan looked at each other.
"Those bastards, now it looks like I can't even pay for my own date," Dan said, rolling his head back. "I promise that wasn't part of the plan."
"Who cares? Serves them right for the secrecy. I'm going to tell Serena I left seconds after she did. I think it's more fun that way."
"Of course you do," Dan replied, grinning. "I guess I can play up a heartbroken, left at the table lonely boy persona."
"It would serve you best if you did," Blair nodded. She glanced at her watched, "I should be going."
"You don't want to get a drink?"
Blair smiled, "Not tonight, Humphrey." She stood and leaned over, kissing his forehead. "Goodbye, Dan."
Blair was grinning to herself before she heard her last name being called. "Yes?"
"What was that?"
"Oh, I don't know. I guess we'll see in the new year."
Blair could hear an audible groan coming from the table and she started to giggle. Two could play at the hard to get, forehead kissing game, and Blair was determined to win at any game they were playing.
